Tongue-support



(No Model.)

I. W. HAMMON.

TONGUE SUPPORT.

No. 368,392. Patented Aug. 16, 1887.

1&1.

& PETERS. Phol rlflhcgmphnr. Washinglun. D4 0.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEFICE.

ISAAC XV. HAMMON, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA.

TONGUE-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,392, dated August16, 1887.

Application filed September .21, 1886. Serial No. 214,192. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC W. HAMMON, of Hammond, in the county of Lakeand State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin \Vagon Tongue or Shaft Supports; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon,which form a part ofthisspecification.

This invention relates to improved spring supports for the tongue orshafts of vehicles.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointedout in the ap pended claims.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the front axleof a vehicle and a spring-support attached thereto, said view showingthe tongue and thcspring-arm in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a sectionalelevation taken upon line :0 a: of Fig. 1, showing the supporting arm orspring in section and the attaching devices for pivotally connecting itwith the axle in elevation. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional viewsimilar to Fig. 1, showing another form of device embodying-the mainfeatures of my invention.

In the said drawings, A indicates the front axle of the vehicle, B B thehounds, and G a tongue or pole pivoted between the front ends of thehounds at c in the usual manner.

D is the supporting arm or spring of the tongue-support, which isconnected by a pivotbolt, (1, with vertical lugs E, secured to andprojecting in front of the axle and extends forward beneath the tongueto a point in advance of the pivot c of said tongue.

E is a setscrew inserted through a part or projection upon the axle andbearing upon the springarm D in such manner as to prevent the free endof the latter from dropping, while at the same time affording means forraising and lowering the said free end of the arm, so that the lattermay sustain the front end of the tongue in a higher or lower position,asdesired. In the particular form of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 thesaid spring-arm D is formed by a series of leaf-springs, d d d cl",secured together by bolts or rivets d' d", the upper spring or layer,(1, being bent upwardly and formed into an eye, (1, through whichthepivot-bolt d is inserted. In this instance the vertical lugs F,between which the inner end of the spring-arm D is placed, and throughwhich the pivot-bolt d is inserted, are cast integral U against theunder side of the spring-arm D forward of the pivot d. The plate orlug Fis desirably cast or otherwise made continuous with the lateral platesor lugs F, so as to give the necessary rigidity therein without givingtoo great weight to the parts. This construction obviously affords thenecessary support to and adjustment in the spring-arm without anycomplicated or expensive construction in the parts to attain these ends.

Another desirable construction whereby the main features of theinvention may be carried out is shown in Fig. 3. In this example thespring-plates d d d d, composing the springarm D, arebolted or rivetedat their inner ends to a casting, D,having an upwardlyextending part orarm, D which is located between lugs F upon a plate, F, and pivoted tosaid lugs by a pivot-bolt, (Z, inserted through the lugs and through anaperture in the upper part of the said ar'm D The adj UShlllg-SCIGW' Eis in this case arranged horizontally, and is inserted through adownward]y-extending part or prolongation, f, upon the plateF in suchmanner as to bear upon the rear or inner face of the casting D. The saidset-screw in this con struction obviously operates in adjusting theposition of the free end of the spring-arm D in the same manner asbefore stated.

In the application of a spring'support of the character above describedto a wagon or carriage having shafts the spring-arm of the support willbe attached so as to bear upwardly upon one or both shafts, or upon theconnecting-bar between them in a manner readily understood.

I am aware that it has been proposed heretofore to employ for awagon-tongue support a spring-arm pivotally connected with the outerends of the hounds by a depending yoke or bar and provided with a shortarm extending past its pivotal point and adjustably connected with thetongue itself near the pivot of the latter. I am also aware that aspring-arm consisting of a series of thin connected plates has beenrigidly attached to the end of the reach forward of the axle andextended over the top of the tongue and connected with the latter at itsouter end. A tongue-support pivotally attached to the axle and extendingbeneath the tongue,in combination with an adjusting device attached tolugs secured to the axle and acting upon the spring-arm near its pivotalpoint, as herein shown, has obvious and important advantages in point ofsimplicity and rigidity over supports of the kind heretofore made, andabove referred to.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the axle and pivotedtongue or shafts of a wagon-gear, of vertical lugs F F, secured to andproj ecting in front of the axle, a spring-tongue-supporting arm pivotedbetween said lugs, and an adjusting screw, E, supported by the axle andbearing upon the spring arm, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the axle and the tongue or shafts of awagon-gear, of a supporting device for said tongue or shafts, consistingof a plate or casting,F,secured to the front surface of the axle andprovidedwith vertical lugs or projections F F, a spring-arm pivotedbetween said lugs or projections, and a set screw threaded through thesaid plate or casting and bearing upon the spring-arm, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing. as my invention I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

his ISAAC W. x HAMMON.

mark.

Witnesses:

G. CLARENCE POOLE, EDWARD SI Ks.

